Daniel Franc

Nov. 1, 1861: George B. McClellan succeeds Winfield Scott as general-in-chief of the U.S. Army, a post he will hold until mid-1862. Nov. 2, 1861: Major General John C. Fremont, a former Republican senator and presidential candidate, is removed from …→

Oct. 3, 1861: Inconclusive Battle of Greenbriar River in West Virginia. Though casualties are light and almost equal on each side, both the Federal and Confederate commanders exaggerate their enemy’s losses to give the impression of victory. Oct. 9, 1861: …→

Today, the Civil War seems distant. But exactly 150 years ago, this four-year national convulsion was just beginning. The months and years to come would witness a profound change in the American military, political and social landscapes. On the anniversary …→